Page 50 - India's 10 Best Tour Arranging Companies For 2019

How experience-oriented travel will

help Indian tourism sector grow?

and experiencing phases. Provider websites,
price-comparison sites and search engines are
the dominant online channels. Although offline
channels have similar influence in those research-
heavy phases, our research shows that online
channels prevail in the critical booking and
sharing phases. Nearly 60% of customers book
transport and lodging online, and more than half
of consumers share feedback online.
Business travellers spent $37 billion in 2018, and
leisure travellers spent $57 billion. We placed
travellers into five cohorts:
• Frequent flyers spent $17 billion on travel
in 2018, and nearly 70% book their travel
online. They make their choices based on
convenience (timing, location), availability and
brand preference, and past experience. They
he Indian travel and tourism industry has value a hassle-free post-booking experience.
achieved scale. Indian travellers went • Budget business travellers spent $20 billion
Ton approximately 2 billion domestic and in 2018, with 86% researching online and 60%
international trips in 2018, spending nearly $94 booking online. They base their decisions on
billion on transportation, lodging and consumption cost, availability and consultation within their
during their travels. As Internet penetration increases personal business network.
throughout the country, more travellers will book • Experience-oriented travellers spent $22
online—nearly 35% by 2021. To take advantage of billion on travel in 2018, and about 70% book
rising online spending, companies need to facilitate online. They research extensively online
new user adoption and increase penetration among and offline for authentic experiences and
existing travellers across the purchasing phases: convenient options. They are highly loyal
interest, researching, booking, experiencing and post- to their preferred airline and hotel brands,
trip sharing. and they actively
Online channels now share their travel
influence customers’ experiences.
decisions as much • Budget group
as offline channels. travellers spent $29
More than 86% of billion in 2018, with
consumers with 90% researching online
Internet access and 55% booking
were influenced online. Multiple
by online channels decision makers are
in the research- typically involved
heavy pre-booking in the research and
booking processes, and